Under the Milky Way • Guitar lesson w/ chords & tabs (The Church)

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View my additional notes for UNDER THE Milky Way: songnotes.net/lessons/296/
***
Hey friends! In this lesson I'll teach you how to play the 1988 song "Under the Milky Way" by The Church. The song combines slight hints of late 80s New Wave / alt rock sounds, along with multiple acoustic guitars (one of which is a 12-string, another being capo 5). I'll focus my tutorial on a solo acoustic version, played without capo, that best captures the combined sound of everything you hear on the album version. Chord-wise, things are fairly straightforward: A-minor and a few variations, Fmaj7 (easy!), G, and E-minor make up the bulk of what you'll be playing. Strumming can be tricky, but I'll break it down carefully and show a simplified version if you want something more accessible. Finally, at the end of the lesson I'll do a full playthrough to show you how to put it all together.
Here's timestamps for my video lesson:
- 0:00 Lesson overview
- 2:55 Intro chords
- 8:19 Intro strumming
- 10:18 Verse chords & strumming
- 13:11 Simplified strumming pattern
- 14:19 Chorus & refrain
- 15:45 Misc tips & advice
- 18:07 Full playthrough
Thanks to Patreon supporter Mark for requesting this one! This tune was a favorite of mine in college, when many of my roommates and I would watch Donnie Darko over and over again - which features a soundtrack with this and many other 1980 songs (here's the scene with this song being used • The Church - Under The... ).
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[@songnotes]

Get my PDF chord sheet for this lesson @ playsongnotes.com/lessons/296/ Timestamps for this video: - 0:00 Lesson overview - 2:55 Intro chords - 8:19 Intro strumming - 10:18 Verse chords & strumming - 13:11 Simplified strumming pattern - 14:19 Chorus & refrain - 15:45 Misc tips & advice - 18:07 Full playthrough

[@jasonarstell8039]

I don’t know why, but I love seeing a United Statesian appreciate this music Good on you bro awesome band awesome song

[@paulocmsantos]

I just about finished Donie Darko and I was like "Oh, i have to learn this song" *~* Thanks man, you're God

[@willwetherell7265]

He's good..NOT GOD.

[@paulocmsantos]

claramente não entendeu a referência

[@Phoenixhunter157]

Bless you for breaking this down. Especially the strumming pattern, because I was not getting anywhere close

[@VenTanoyl]

What an absolute piece of music from one of my fav movies! Such a classic and such an easy lesson

[@stephanieredden8861]

I woke up this morning with this song in my head and decided that I could play it. Anyway, I typed in guitar lessons and saw the same interview with Steven Kilby. I found it interesting that he always mutes the 5th string on his G chords and that he always uses the Fm7 on all of the songs he writes and never the F chord. I'm having trouble hearing the strumming pattern on the chorus and that's how I ended up here. Thank you and I hit subscribe.

[@AntGeezer]

Your KZbin lessons and the way your web site is laid out is a huge credit to you and a fabulous resource for us. Thank you 👍

[@victor5435]

Thanks for this lesson. It is probably the best song to practice barre chords. It's mostly one shape that slides up the neck. It's a common chord pattern so learning that barre shape pays off in the long run.

[@milesprouten9376]

Really enjoyable lesson. I'm see the The Church next week, so fun learning this song in advance.

[@robertclark4509]

YAAAAAAH !!!!! thank you Song Notes I was livid downtown Vancouver on Harwood st loving life

[@harryodum5598]

That's a great strumming pattern! Been using that one for a long time goes well with a lot of songs. Great video man.

[@thebluestarman1085]

AWESOME , thanks mate💪

[@carlosnichols1878]

You are the only one who nails it,, very well done sir, thank you, excellent, cheers

[@johnlydick9173]

Thank you David. Signed back in to SongNotes just to get your paperwork. I am enjoying it very much.

[@victor5435]

Great song. Great choice!

[@deadvex]

this video is done really well! thanks for doing this

[@juditharmstrong6267]

Great lesson

[@magapfe]

Thank you You are a grate teacher Mark Pfeifer Mexico City

[@tonyabrego494]

thank u always wanted to play this one. great teacher

[@newplayer-tr9lf]

thx this was great help 4noob. explained wonderfully.

[@billwellington4339]

I love this song....just found their Remote Luxury album...which doesn't have this on it but is quite a good find ...

[@billpalmisano]

Also note in the recording they are using a 12 string. Good lesson. Thanks.

[@Neosnoop37]

the f sharp over the Asus 4 is also missing here.

[@angelofarroni9598]

Bravo David. Ottima scelta.

[@peekayyemm]

Thank u☺️

[@harveysmusicschoollizaman2290]

I find playing the F# chord as E=2 A=x D=0 G=2 B=3 e=x (D/F#) sounds quite nice.

[@joeyranones2953]

Hey Dave, love what you did here. Pls share some Mighty Lemon drops songs guitar tutorial like Out of Hand and Inside Out of the 80s. This is great.

[@oceanbeliever681]

Love this song great job bro

[@my2cents370]

Great Video! One thing you might try is hitting a Gb on low E string before going to that F chord and G. Being a bass player i tend to go there if I'm on guitar. Just another option.

[@jamescardella2133]

Thank you for this! I am performing this with a friend of mine and I was afraid I was going to have to throw on a capo mid song 😆

[@brianfeldtman]

This is a fantastic deep dive. IF one was not using a capo, would that second chord sound good as A7sus4? XAEADG ?

[@dankeck6230]

Thanks for this lesson. If I become a $3.00 patreon, do I get access to all your pdf chord sheets and notes (like clay pigeons) or do I need another tier to get all the pdf/song notes? Thanks

[@Ihavebeenwatchingyou]

I approve.

[@bluetrain69]

This is a great song and lesson. Can we purchase single songs?

[@petstrasser9323]

If I could wish a song I would like to lern walking in Memphis

[@Dirty-Blue-Groove]

The guitar keeps playing the G chord not Em, however the bass guitar drives that E bass note.

[@two415dude2]

How your teaching us to play sounds like the remastered 2005 version.. Yes or no?

[@fabiogutierrez5197]

🤗👍🏻

[@markmembers4573]

Just subscribed. Great lesson -Love the details! -BTW, the instrument that's playing during the refrain is NOT an organ, it's the friggin' BAGPIPES !! -One of the things that make this song truly interesting & unique. (I mean, try and think of any other rock song with a bagpipes solo..)

[@barrykenworthy5138]

acdc long way to the top

[@michaeloneill5824]

the Am is wrong though isnt it! Did you listen to the song?

[@gunsofsteele]

David Pots is such a complishini...

[@rickyjoeshippyful]

You keep referring to those capo'd chords by the wrong names, they are also Am, Am7, Fmaj7 and G using Em, Em7, Cmaj7, and D 'SHAPES'. That may be teaching people new to this the wrong chord names of what they are playing, as a 'teacher' you are responsible to know the difference and teach what is correct musically, don't ya think? Otherwise a good lesson on how to play the song.

[@juancarlosblanco2553]

Nobody match the second chord when bass plays F# and you neither. I can't believe it! The only you have to do is to change the position of your finger on E note in Am chord to F# on the first string

[@lloydclaussen3925]

Playing it way too fast

[@peregrinemccauley5010]

Speak clearly please ..

[@peregrinemccauley5010]

@KILL4ME 666 Saw the Church live in Canberra back in 1996 . It was great . Good blokes . Tight performance . Good sound .